Today on the podcast, Sean talks with Deandra Ziegler about small group nights.
Deandra discusses the small groups nights they do 4 x’s a year at their church. “All Small Groups” occurs on either a Wednesday or Sunday for the entire hour of that service time. Each small group leader plans their groups event (bible study, combining with another group to do a game, or whatever the leader comes up with) and after attendance is taken they leave to go do their small group get together. Deandra explains how holding these events, especially at the beginning of the year, allows for a great foundation to be built in the small groups.
Sean asked how leaders know what to do, especially a new leader coming into the ministry. Deandra explains that they send out newsletters to their volunteers. A couple weeks before the event they send out information with the philosophy behind the event, some ideas of things that have been done, some game ideas. This is all done on campus due to security reasons they are not allowed off campus. If you have questions about Deandra’s “All Small Group” night you can click here.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean talks with Zach Matchett about effectively communicating the gospel with preteens.
Effectively communicating the gospel to preteens includes giving more opportunities to work it in to the teaching. How do you make the gospel in a digestible way for preteens to truly understand all the what questions that might come up for them? Zach suggests repetition, specifically in phrases he uses in his teachings. For example, “Jesus lived the life that we couldn’t live” and on the flip side “Jesus died the death we deserved.” Secondly, utilizing tactile illustrations for them to understand, like the gospel blocks from Superstart. These blocks are easy for them to grasp the concept and makes it even easier for them to turn around and present the message to a friend. If you have questions about what you heard from Zach or would like to get in touch with him you can email him at zach.matchett@northviewchurch.us or click here.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean talks about taking joy in our work.
Philippians 4:4 says “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again rejoice.” This sounds like a command from God, that we find joy in our work. Jesus even found joy as he was headed to the cross. Finding joy in our work is God’s will for us. Sean encourages you, that even if there are difficult things happening in life or at work, that you are able to find joy in everything. Sean suggests taking a moment to write down 10 things that you can rejoice about right now. Take joy in the ministry that God has gifted you with.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean speaks about the strategy of talking about what is whispered.
Picture a Peanuts cartoon, the characters are talking during class, but in the background you hear the teacher talking and being ignored. We don’t want God’s word to ever be ignored. We are not wanting the whispers becoming the main focus for our preteens. Taking what they are talking about and incorporating it into the lesson can help to make sense of the whispers and bring the focus back to God. God’s word has something to say about what our preteens are whispering about. Sean suggests helping them to tie their whispers to the knowledge found in God’s word.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.